#NetZero: Bring me my Chariot of Fire!

In our series on Net Zero, we first looked at why Climate Change?is in news . Then we discussed its root causes - namely carbon and greenhouse gases - and the need for urgent action with clear benefit-case . But we know how easy is it to get lost when it comes to practical tools - for us individually and for our businesses and communities. So we focus today on these tools.

To build a new Jerusalem, William Blake called for a Bow of Burning Gold, Arrows of Desire, a Spear to unfold the clouds, and a Chariot of fire. The Net Zero tools to our hand right now are perhaps not as poetic, but every bit as powerful!

We have proven technologies in operation to reduce ecological impact of our economic activity.

Using these tools, we do not merely shift the location or responsibility of carbon or greenhouse gases, but actually reduce these harmful emissions. Let us count the ways:

1. Plant trees: Each trees store carbon, reducing this very harmful element from our atmosphere, to the tune of 1 tonne over its life. This compares to an average UK family emitting 20 tonnes per year though, so offsetting purely by planting trees would need over 20 trees per year. And of course, these trees have a finite life. So forests need preservation and replenishment. But it is a great start to help with afforestation initiatives in our communities, and to support forest-friendly businesses .
2. Use renewable power: By using energy from renewable sources like the sun, winds, rivers, earth's core and tides, we can reduce fossil fuels and their harmful emissions. However, many renewable sources are intermittent. So for now, we can not fully replace coal, oil & gas. But we can very substantially reduce reliance on harmful fuels. For example, in 10 short years, UK energy mix has gone from under 10% to over 50% renewable . Individually we support this change when we choose to buy "zero emission" or green power from our utility. This is the single largest way we can reduce our carbon footprint - by up to a 25% or planting 5 trees per year for the average family.
3. Take the train, let your next car be electric: By using battery-powered cars & buses, or taking electric trains & trams, we can reduce our carbon footprint further by 10-15%. We also reduce pollution in our communities. For full benefit, we do need to source the electricity from renewable sources. Thankfully this is an action we are increasingly taking. So much so, that the stock markets have got the memo - the leading electric auto company is more valuable than all petroleum & hybrid car companies combined!
4. Capture, store or re-use carbon: This technology grabs carbon dioxide literally from the air, e.g. smoke from a coal-fired plant, or fermentation from beer vats. The carbon dioxide is then used for industrial or chemical processes, and can even be stored. We can support this exciting tool by buying more from businesses who pilot such tools, such as Tennent's lager !
5. Swap end-of-life boilers with heat pumps: Heat pumps exchange heat between our homes or offices on one side, and ambient air or ground on the other. So we can be cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter - which does sound rather nice! They are cheaper to run and kinder to the environment. So learning about these , and using them for the next home upgrade is something we could all do, reducing our carbon footprint by about 10%, equal to planting two new tree annually.
6. Eat more plant-based foods: About 15% of the global warming is caused by meat and dairy farming. In fact, by swapping "spagbol" with tagliatelle ai funghi twice a week, the average UK family can save 3% of their carbon footprint. This simple choice gives a third of benefit from installing a heat pump or switching to an electric car!

Ah, but would these changes cost money? Certainly not over time, and often not even in the short-term. But change does need two critical steps for us all to take:

Inform ourselves: We can do a whole lot to reduce our environment impact without upfront investment, e.g. swapping to eco-friendly products, recycling more, and reducing harmful consumption. A good list is here - engagement is easy; getting started is often the hardest part.

Of course some tools do need upfront investments, e.g. installing a heat pump. This is where green finance has to come in - more on this in a bit.

For small businesses, understanding and using ecological impact data is crucial to predict future demand and costs. This is ultimately the path to future profits. This action starts with a commercial ESG strategy spanning revenue planning, resource costs, staff engagement, and financing model. We would welcome you getting in touch with?Project Brains specialists ?to develop your strategy.

Access green finance: UK Government makes several grants and loans available to improve our ecological footprint - for both individuals and businesses . So do other governments around the world.

Private financing solutions like climate bonds have made over trillion dollar of capital available for the green economy. So remember, if your business is not taking the advantage of these, you probably will be out-competed by someone who is.

And this is far from the end of innovation for Net Zero. Exciting technologies and financing methods are coming on-stream in near future. These include large scale carbon capture, hydrogen ecosystems, fuel cells, better batteries, smaller and advanced nuclear reactors, sustainable business finance networks, green fintech products, and much more. We will cover these in the next article. The message today is:

We improve our lives and our environment by making simple changes towards Net Zero. The best time to start is today.

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